Do you have ADD?

I think I just might - but I had to be sure so I did a little experiment...

Have a Great Week!

GTD Day 7 - One week in!

One full week of getting things done and I must say I am one tired boy. Last night was a vortex filled evening, brimming with more and more side projects that will drain on my time.

As I am more concious of my time I now are more protective of it. Loosely defined, open ended projects send off warning bells and raise flags.

Just because something is interesting to me or worth doing - do I have to be the one to do it?

If some task is within my power and is a nobel pursuit - am I morally compelled to complete it?

How many nobel pursuits have you given your self to?

In the past I have more than greatfully embraced the projects of others thinking that if I got in there and did a good job it would lead to something other. These other further opportunities have yet to materialize - I may just be jaded from 15 years of people letting me down, or I may be waking up to see the writing on the wall.

What pray tell is emblazend on the wall of reality?

People that come to you for help to accomplish their goals have no interest in your goals.

classic example: I had a dream of entering a submission in a film festival 4-5 years back. The team I had assembled to complete this task bailed within two months. Yet when they need an actor for some production at the last minute or need creative imput on creating a concept for a video series they call me.

I don't keep score, but I know when to apply the mercy rule. If they are always too busy for your projects but need me to drop everything for their projects - time and time again - I begin to doubt their motives and intentions when presenting me with the latest and greatest concept that will undoubtedly (ove r an aditional 5 year plan) lead to the creation of a "side project" that could be entered into the festival. I say "10 years too late!"

Don't get me wrong in the past I did what I wanted to do and no one has forced my hand, but it is disappointing when looking at my track record to see all the projects I gave up to pursue everyone else's dreams.

I have a new profound respect for time, its proper use, and its limited supply.

Make your films today!
Jay Mart

GTD Day 6

Getting Even more things done!

Day 2 of the new job was excellent - this whole week won't be doing too much after work as my head hurts from learning all the new stuff. I did have an imporvisational comedy rehersal planned - but half of the troupe are in a play and they had to bail for a rehersal, the play is this weekend and according to them the extra rehersal was a welcomed addition.

Today I will be learning and taking it easy.

The Idea of the GTD is to use the least amount of framework that gets things done. I only cary a list with me of things to do on the weekends as I don't plan on getting anything beyond sleep, eat, work done anyway. There is  a flexibility to use only what you need when you need.

I still have lists online that hold the "mile long wish list" of tasks to eventually get done - and as long as they are written down (typed down) I no longer have to worry about forgetting them. I have come to terms that I will check the list if I have extra time and they will all be waiting for me.

This releaves a huge weight off of my mind as the list doesn't consume any thought. only one thought is needed: is it on the list?

Yes - then it is covered

No - then add it to the list now

As the list is online I can add it immediately if I am at my PC or write it down on my business card Hipster PDA and when I am at my PC I always check it and update accordingly - very simple system.

GTD Day 4,5

Well I spend so much time relaxing on Sunday that I didn't get onto my blog to type anything down.

First day of the new job went well - head hurting with too much new information. I didn't have anything other than Volley Ball to do on the Monday, besides working of course. So that all got done. Tuesday I will be trying to get some things done between Work and Improv practice. Still need to get the old taxes in. so I will be be managing that this afterwork.

Afterwork is like that part of the afternoon before evening but after work that always gets eaten up by meal preparation or errand running. hopefully today I will be able to edge my tax preparation in edgewise and squeeze some money back out of the cold unyielding hands of the government.

Well I am off to work take care and keep Getting Things Done!

Cheers!

GTD Day 3 - the long haul

Day 3 was exciting - trying to minimize my now ginormus list of tasks that I wish to complete someday, I created a separate list of things to do eventually that I labeled "soonish".

The items on this list are the nice to haves that will not get completed in the next few days but are collected so I won't forget them. Once something is recorded you don't need to worry about them. I review them every day and pull things from this list if I have related tasks or if I have extra time.

I must say the one thing that is keeping me on this GTD type program is the fact that I am now planning time for the fun stuff as well. A trip to the beach needs to be scheduled and just like cleaning the toilet I have to do it weather I want to or not.

Forcing me to slow down and take life one day at a time. "Forcing" me to relax and take the time to think about long term goals and the like.

As it is Sunday and I am wanting to relax I only have 3 things on my list for today:

 - go to the beach

 - relax

 - get to bed early for the first day of my new job tomorrow.

And that is it! - anything else that happens is just a bonus!

I almost feel retired with a short list like this - but in the past I always try to consistantly do too much.

If you want more information on GTD check out the 43 folders website it has Many Many links with Many Many great tips on getting organized while simplifying and increasing productivity.

Cheers!

Jay Mart

GTD,performance,life optimization

GTD Day 2

Well day two went better than day 1!
All the overhead of selecting the systems and such was done.
The one issue I did have was that I got quite a bit done in the AM and crashed in the early afternoon and didn't really hit my list again till the evening.

The ironic thing about all of this is that even though I only got 1/2 way down my list I still got 5x as much done as I would have on an entire weekend!

Keeping the GTD list manageable is my next challenge. Every time I cross something off my list I think "a couple of weeks ago this is all I would have done in a week!"

some of the items on my list were not granular enough and I have had to split them out over the next couple of days.

All in all I strongly suggest that you give Getting things done a look over and take only the pieces that work for you. The system was based on a book - I saw a talk the author gave to Google staff on the subject of his book and die-hard users of the systems he introduced are making more headway than he is. he was like a guy who threw out an idea to see if it would stick and all the life hacker people came out and created an open source community of opinions and ideas around the general concepts and now the product found on the internet is quite refined.

I will continue to keep you posted!
Jay Mart

Getting Things Done.

Yesterday was my first full day of GTD.
GTD is a very simple system for Getting Things Done.
Basically you find the simplest system of organization that still facilitates productivity. Sorting all things into two piles: the small stuff (not worth doing) and the stuff that can be broken into smaller actionable pieces.

So I set aside a total of 2 hours to get this all set up. I scribbling down my "huge to do list" which ended up not taking that long, then I decided on the Business Card format for my Hipster PDA (I recently switched jobs and had 499 business cards all blank on the back, found a fold back binder clip for them and am set.)

I keep my lists online using: ta-da lists at http://www.tadalist.com/ and set that as one of my home tabs. this will keep the lists in my face throughout the day.

I will keep you posted on the progress as I try to turn using this system into a habit.

THE FIRST DAY:
All went well - got so much done - like a weeks worth of running around and errands in one day! and I set up today's list as the last thing I did. I have a feeling I will actually be getting things done and enjoying more free time.

I did do more than I usually do in a day but surprisingly I got it done faster than my normal routine as I had the mentality that I need to keep moving on to the next task. last night I spent 3 hours playing video Games and watching Sweeny Todd. (by the way Sweeny despite the singing is really quite gory, I mean good.)

Each day for the first 21 days I will try and document how this new methodology works and keep you posted.

Cheers,
Jay Mart